Five Westerners, a Saudi and three unidentified attackers have been killed in two related incidents in the Saudi Red Sea port town of Yanbu.
Attackers opened fire on an oil refinery co-owned by Exxon Mobil and the Saudi company SABIC in the kingdom's northwestern town.
Two Americans, two Britons, an Australian and a Saudi were killed, company officials and diplomats said.
Earlier reports suggested three Americans were killed Interior Ministry officials said three attackers were also killed.
"At 7:00 am (0400 GMT) on Saturday four men entered the headquarters of a Saudi contractor in Yanbu and fired at random on Saudis and foreigners," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
"Security forces chased them and they took refuge in residential areas and hijacked some cars. Three of them were killed and a fourth was wounded. There were a number of deaths and injuries among Saudis and foreigners," it added.
**Diplomats' confirmation***
US diplomats in Saudi Arabia also said they had received reports that Westerners, including Americans, had been attacked in Yanbu and some were killed.
A hotel employee in Yanbu confirmed a Westerner was killed in a five-star hotel in the city.
**PHOTO CAPTION***
A video grab shows Saudi police standing near a burned vehicle in the Saudi oil and petrochemical hub of Yanbu on the Red Sea, May 1, 2004. (Reuters)